For Sixers' Moultrie, better fitness will lead to more minutes

PHILADELPHIA — Every now and then, Arnett Moultrie gets winded. He said it happens more often than he’d like, a sign that the 76ers’ second-year forward needs to get in better shape.

Fitness, Moultrie contends, is the lone obstacle standing in the way of him getting regular, extended playing time. Helping him clear that hurdle will be another one or two nods as the Sixers’ starting center.

By no means is Moultrie, a 6-10, 240-pounder, viewed as the Sixers’ long-term answer in the middle. For now, he’s the only big guy Sixers coach Brett Brown can comfortably put there.

“Given the past 24 hours, yes,” Brown said after Sunday’s practice at PCOM.

Advertisement

It’s a good bet Moultrie will make his second straight start — both at the center spot — Monday night against Milwaukee. Trade acquisitions Henry Sims and Byron Mullens only went through their second practices with the Sixers, and Brown didn’t sound inclined to consider either as starting center material when the Bucks come to town.

Moultrie gives up a few inches and more than a few pounds to opposing centers, which is of little relevance to the 23-year-old. Earlier this month, he was sent to the D-League to get minutes before completing his rehab from preseason ankle surgery and making his season debut Feb. 9.

He’s averaging 2.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17.3 minutes over five games.

“I’m perfectly fine with (playing center),” Moultrie said. “Whatever I have to do to stay on the floor and play steady minutes, I’m going to do it. Of course, it’s tough down there because guys are a lot bigger than me and stronger than me, but I’ll try to use my speed to outplay them.”

In Friday’s loss to Dallas, Moultrie’s first career start, he logged six points and five rebounds in a career-high 31 minutes. Only 11 times previously had Moultrie ever played 20 or more minutes.

Brown’s only reluctance in committing more minutes to Moultrie is the Mississippi State product’s fitness.

“He’s got to get in great shape. When he does that, he can outrun everybody,” Brown said. “His natural position is (power forward). He’s a pick-and-pop four man. The David West, LaMarcus Aldridge, those types of elite — (Serge) Ibaka — 18- to 20-foot jump shooters, you encourage that.

“If you’re not up to that standard, just firing up 40-something percent long 2s, that’s not what we’re looking for. We want him to be a roller, a rim-runner, and if that’s your game, become elite at it. That’s the challenge in regard to that long 2. He’s got to become the best athlete on the floor. He’s got to condition himself like that. Anything short of that becomes average, and he’s got a lot more to him than being average.”

Moultrie accepts that his ankle injury precluded him from getting into the top-tier teammates can boast. He’s got 26 games to prove what he can do to his body and to his game, and prove he was worth the $1.13 million option the Sixers picked up in November.

“I think once he gets in a little better shape, he’ll be fine,” said veteran Thaddeus Young. “You’ve got to think about it — he’s been out the last two months, three months. It’s all about working him back in.”

Moultrie said he envisions a starting frontcourt next season, in which Young is the small forward, Moultrie is the power forward and Nerlens Noel is the center.

“That’ll be a nice frontcourt because I know I’m a natural four, I know how badly Thad wants to play the three and you’ve got a rim protector in Nerlens,” Moultrie said, “so hopefully it all works out.”

? ? ?

Danny Granger has completed the last installment of his physical, and 76ers coach Brett Brown said he intended to sit down with the 30-year-old forward Sunday afternoon.

Granger did not see or participate in the Sixers’ two-hour practice at PCOM. Brown said Granger was not even in the building.

“He was going through the final stages of physicals and I’m going to be meeting with him within the hour,” Brown said.

Granger, who was acquired from Indiana Thursday at the trade deadline, reportedly does not want to play for the Sixers and is said to be seeking a buyout of the remainder of his contract. The small forward is making $14 million this season.

Only Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie has spoken with Granger, Brown said, though the coach expected that to change in the 60 minutes following his team’s practice.

“Sam has met with him,” Brown said. “(Granger) has done his physicals and he’ll come back and I’ll sit down with him for the first time now that the physicals have been had and talk with him.”